Time-clock electrical switch



Feb 2 19260 H. E. ROBERTSQN TIME CLOCK ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan INVEN TOR. Mgr/7 f. Robe/visa ATTORNEY TIME CLOCK ELECTRICAL- SWITCH Filed Jan 1925 Patented Feb; 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES noon 2. nonnnrson,

OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 STAN- FORD B. NICKELS, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. Y

\ TIME-CLOCK ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

\ Y Application filed January 26, 1925. Serial No. 4,722.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUGH E. Ronna'rson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements in Time-Clock Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to time clock electrical switches, and in which the switch thereof is adapted to be actuated by means of the clock mechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a compact, eflicient and durable device of the above character, whereby the switch! may be automatically closed and opened at predetermined times chosen by the operator.

A further object of my invention is to provide time setting indicia on the front of a clock face, to indicate the time at which the mechanism will operate to close the switch and the time at which the mechanism will again operate to open the switch.

Another important object of my invention is to have the clock and mechanismfunction accurately whether the electric current is on or off, as sometimes the current may be off due to accident and I do not wish my clock and time arrangement interrupted because of the interrupted current supply.

The invention may be put to a varietyof uses, such'as to turn onand off display window lights or electric signs, to automatically start and shut off electric stoves, ranges or cooking units, or to start and stop at any predetermined time the flow of electric current into any electrical device.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, going, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the pres ent specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as expressed in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

some of which, with the fore.

nism showing the means for caring my device thereto, the clock face eing removed and certain parts of the mechanism broken away to show parts therebehind.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the clock mechanism and of my switch actuating mechanism attached thereto, the switch being shown open; and Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the switch closed.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the male switch member along the line 55 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a section through the socket member of the switch.

Fig/*7 is an edge view of one of the spring lever actuating members of my invention in position; and Fig. 8 is a face view of the member; and

Fig. 9 is a of one of the time setting members for the switch, showing primarily the cutaway portion for actuating the spring lever.

Referring now to the drawings more specifically: The numerals 10 and 11 indicate a pair of parallel frameplates and between which is mounted the major portion of a clock mechanism. A clock face 12 of usual construction is mounted by any suitable means to the outer side of frame late of plate 11 carries the hour hand of the clock and is adapted to make one complete revolution every twelve hours by means of the clock mechanism. The foregoing structure is common to most clocks.

Referring now more particularly to my invention, a pair of rotatable stems 13 and 14 are mounted through and between said frameplates, and on each of the stems 13 and 14 on the outer side of the plate 11 is slidably mounted gear wheels 15 and 16 respectively; said gear wheels 15 and 16 are suitably geared to gear wheel 12' by means of the regular pinion 17 of the clock so that each of the gear wheels 15 and 16 make one complete revolution every twenty-four hours.

The gear wheel 15 is provided with a recessed hub 18 extending on the outside of the wheel,-the outer edge of which hub engages a lug 19 Fig. 9, forming an extension of the disk member 20 rigidly secured near the end of the stem 13.

Secured at one end by'means of screw 21, Fig. 7, to the outer side of plate 11 and disfragmentary perspective view I posed between the frameplate 11 and the inner face of the hub 18' 1s a spring lever 22 provided with an elongated opening 23, Fig. 8, through which passes the stem 13. An extension 22 of said spring lever 22 is disposed angularly thereto and passes through the plate 11 and is bent to form a hook 24, the object of which will be later brought out. Aflspjral spring 25, as an auxillary, is mounted on the stem 13 between the frameplate 11 and spring lever 22 and assists said spring lever in resiliently holding the hub 18 to the disk'lug 19. The outer edge of the hub 18 Fig. 9, is provided with a cutaway portion forming a straight 'drop edge 26 and a slanting edge 27 and as the gear wheel 15 revolves in the direction of the arrow shown, the cutaway portion of the hub 18 finally arrives opposite the disk lug 19 and the tensionof the spring lever 22 and the spiral spring 25 against the inner face of the hub 18 causes the gear wheel to spring forward and thus engage the lug 19 in the cutaway portion andthe disk member 20 within the recessed end of the boss 18 and at the same time carry'forward the hook 24. As the gear wheel 15 continues to revolve, the lug 19 soon passes up the slanting edge 27 of the cutaway portlon and resumes the normal leases thehook 24.

The gear wheel 16 is constructed and mounted in the same manner as the gear wheel 15, and is provided with a .spring lever 28 formed with an extension hook 29 adapted to function in the same manner as spring lever 22 and hook 24.

Disposed between the frameplates. 10 and 11 and rigidly secured to plate 10 by means of screw 30 is a supporting bracket 31-. A switch lever 32 pivoted intermediate its length to said bracket by the pivot 33, is provided at the outer end thereof with a switch member 34 carrying an electrical wire connection 35 and is adapted for engagement with socket 36 mounted on the frameplate 11 and carrying electrical wire connection 36. The inner end of the switch lever 32 is enlarged to form a counter balance 37.

In the drawings, the time of day is shown to be exactly six oclock p. m., and at that moment the switch opened, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Previous to the said moment, the switch was closed since 3 p. m., Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 9.

In the operation of my device, when the cutaway portion of the boss 18 of the gear wheel 15 comes adjacent the disk lug 19 and springs forward it carries with it the hook 24 which engages the switch lever 32 between the pivot 33 and the switch member 34 and brings the latter forward and thus closes the switch. As the wheel and hub 18 continues to revolve. the disk lug 19 passes up the slanting edge 27 and resumes its normal position on the outer edge of the hub 18 position and thereby reagain. In a similar manner the hook 29 engages the switch lever 32 between the pivot 33 and the counter-balance 37 and opens the switch.

To the end of the stem 13 and disposed on the outside of clock face 12 is secured a pointer '38 which is placed in alignment with the lug 19, and may be rotated to set the switch closing mechanism at any desired hour as indicated by the small hour dial 39 on the clock face 12. A similar pointer 40 is secured to the stem 14 and coacts with small hour dial 41 in indicating the hour at which the switch is to be opened.

In the cross-sections of the switch members of Figs. 5 and 6,42 and 42 represent the binding screws respectively for the wire terminals 35 and 36, and 43 the customary insulatingparts, such as mica for example, for insulating theswitch from the'time clock.

In Fig. 2, 44 indicates guide bars for the pivoted switch lever 32.

Other parts. shown in the drawings but not specifically referred to, are standard parts of ordinary clock movements and need no detailed description in this specification.

While I have illustrated and described my preferred'form of the invention, I do not wish to be limited to shown, but claim as within the scope of my invention all forms readable on the appended claims. 7

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I 1. In a time switch, the combination of a housing comprising a pair of spaced housing plates, a switch lever pivoted intermediate 1ts length to one of said housing plates and a socket member secured to the other of said housing plates, clock mechanism within said housing, a hooked arm member actuated by said clock mechanism and adapted to engage said lever for closing said switch and a second hooked arm member actuated by said clock mechanism and adapted to engage said lever for opening said switch.

2. A time clock electric switch including a clock movement, a pair of duplicate gears in mesh with and adapted to. be driven by a pinion of said movement, each of said gears having in contact therewith a spring lever provided with a hooked armfa switch lever pivotally mounted so as to be within range of the hook of each of said arms, and

the. exact device as time controlled means in connection with each of said gears to operate one of the said spring levers to hook the said switch lever to close the switclrand later to operate the other springlever to hook the said switch lever to open the switch.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HUG E. ROBERTSON. 

